RED AND BLACK REPORT 2024: EDITION NO.32

September 10, 2024 / Will Evans

RED AND BLACK REPORT 2024: EDITION NO.32

September 10, 2024 / Will Evans

The Red and Black Report shines a spotlight on Canterbury Rugby League juniors featuring in Australia’s elite and lower-grade competitions.

Canterbury products were in action in the latest rounds of the NRL and NSW Women’s Premiership, and the NSW Cup, Queensland Cup and Jersey Flegg Cup (NSWRL under-21s) finals series.

 

NRL

Hornby Panthers junior Jordan Riki toiled for 92 metres on 10 runs and 35 tackles as Brisbane Broncos’ disappointing campaign came to an end with a 50-12 loss to Melbourne Storm.

The 24-year-old second-rower extended his record to 89 NRL appearances this year, missing just two of the Broncos’ matches.

Aranui Eagles product Daejarn Asi scored a try and kicked six goals as well as producing two try assists as Parramatta Eels avoided the wooden spoon with a 60-26 defeat of Wests Tigers.

The veteran of 42 NRL games made a career-high 14 appearances in top flight in 2024, racking up 47 points.

Burnham Chevaliers junior Siua Wong returned to the finals-bound Sydney Roosters’ bench for their 36-28 win over South Sydney Rabbitohs, working hard for 115 metres from 12 carries and 29 tackles in 54 minutes of game time.

West Coast-bred Kiwi and former Halswell Hornets junior Griffin Neame played 40 minutes off the bench as North Queensland Cowboys defeated Canterbury Bulldogs 44-6, producing an eye-catching display with 147 metres from 16 runs and 21 tackles.

Aranui Eagles junior Jamayne Isaako kicked a sideline conversion and made 134 metres from 19 runs as the Dolphins’ bid for a finals berth fell short with a 14-6 loss to Newcastle Knights. Burnham Chevaliers junior and livewire half Kodi Nikorima returned from injury off the bench and tried everything to spark the Dolphins, making eight runs for 63 metres and a line-break assist.

Isaako finished second to the Cowboys’ Valentine Holmes (246 points) in NRL pointscoring race, finishing with 223 from 12 tries, 87 goals (at 79.82 percent) and a field goal. The 136-game veteran also passed 1,000 first-grade points during the year. Nikorima brought up his 200-game milestone in the NRL in 2024.

 

NSW CUP

The Warriors’ season came to an end via a 24-12 loss to Penrith Panthers in the first week of the NSW Cup finals.

Linwood Keas’ Makaia Tafua capped an excellent season at hooker with 36 tackles in 64 minutes, while Halswell Hornets front-rower Tanner Stowers-Smith made eight runs for 81 metres and 27 tackles in 45 minutes off the bench.

 

QUEENSLAND CUP

Northern Bulldogs product Sheldon Pitama started at hooker and produced a try assist as Redcliffe Dolphins regrouped with a 36-18 semi-final victory over CQ Capras, booking a prelim date with Northern Pride this Saturday.

Sunshine Coast Falcons’ season flamed out with a 24-10 loss to PNG Hunters, but Hornby Panthers junior and former Canterbury Bulls star Caius Faatili finished strong with eight runs for 103 metres and 26 tackles.

 

JERSEY FLEGG CUP

West Coast back-rower and Halswell junior player Callum Donaldson was at lock as Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs overwhelmed Penrith Panthers 32-6 to advance in the Jersey Flegg finals.

Felix Faatili came off the bench as Cronulla Sharks defeated Newcastle Knights 22-6. Fellow Hornby Panthers product Richie Tupuailei was 18th man.

The Bulldogs progress to the major semi-final against the Raiders, while the Sharks will play the Panthers in the minor semi – both at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday.

 

NSW WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP

Papanui Tigers second-rower Jaydika Tafua lined up in Cronulla Sharks’ dominant 30-6 win over Sydney Roosters.

Canterbury rep and Woolston Rams halfback Cassie Siataga slotted two goals in Wentworthville Magpies 28-24 comeback win over Newcastle Knights, who fielded Sydenham Swans’ Isabella Waterman in the centres for the fourth straight game.

 

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